Condenser plant for locomotives



June 14,1927. I C. ROGIVUE CONDENSER PLANT FOR LOQOMOT'IVES Filed Dec. 19, 1924 Inventor: Cafi Rogivue,

9 His Attorney diiectlycohdensing Ie-Xhnust --e]aStic flniri mm M '14; 1927. I

ndnnmsnnlrnflmroa-noeomonvns. o

" mmmfa nieanecembei 19,1924, Seria1.1o-.757,( )55 naumeermi ew; 51934,

,The presentinvention relates toeaireooled condensation plants forfllocomotiv-S ran v V k e the, resene'e a 01; iLdjflG'611t Il1tGh lIlQ parts;

p-siniilar sel fgpropelle d vehicles which :"move at comparativelyThigh rates of s peec l- 2 1n d which are driven by elastic fluid prime movers." H r v y 1' The} object of theiinVent-ion .is to proviiile a movnble condensation p lant which eflectively utilizes the ,cooling action of the Windnge set nphy it when in \motion for from a locomotive prime .1nover.

- Heretofore, air-cooling in locomotives and the 1ike hesheen-'in connection with watercooled condensat oniplants to; efiect' a recooling of th'e cool ng WRteI USGdulILSUOh PIfiIItS.

I I The iiieziclvanteges v 21t\tending suchnrrange 1 ments lie in the necessity i'or carrying .a-

plicatecl air coohed recoolingrmeens' is e'lime ina'ted. Ingprovi'ding. direct zairfcooling,

V livery of large quantities of hair .thereover inns-t be pro VlCiQd. This J neeessitateslcareiul coneicleretion oi the-.i'eletioi of snch aircoohng neans to other aindgadgneentingichine part5; l which would 1 interfere with the :air flow, 1-.the desired 1 arrangement being i such "that the eir flows ,over the cooling surfaces in substantially n straight line-withontoh structionp.

o By "direct air-cooling, v as used herein,li-s

meant cooling or condensing exhaust; ela s-f ,tlQflUHh-fIOlIi a prinie moveyby ni'r currents paesed;overhowling surfaces with which the enh anetfelastic*fiu d to become (tensed is m contact, that" condensing the eithnust-elasticfiuid directlyby cooling air-l currents instead of by cooling wry-M161 which islnter recooled by airenrrents. 1 fTo proiiide efiective, direet air-cooling, the condensation plant is, in=aeeord: nce with .'the;invention, carried on a separate vehicle whereby the fiill iw'jigithr-iof the vehicle na y be 3 used @to provide a maximum .coohngrzsurj :Eeee :With a; given and, liinited height and considerable qnantit yi of"coolingWater and inthe con plicatetiair eoole lrecooling plantr renired, T .t

w y providing direct airI-coolingfor eonQ wden'sation purposes in eccordence with Jahef V 2?invention, therneedfor cnrryinglaijgeqnen' flow or space'limitati'on is introduced hy cam; ROGIVUE, of TEGEL,; GERM ANY, SSIGrmR Town; 'rnnncrmo eo vrmm;

' whereby no 'z ppreciahle obstruction to air H Enrt erniore; the :use of ye separate vehicle :tor carrying the condensatlon plant permits its' use with existing types or locomotives and the-like wherein no 'space provided tinted, a d for afuither consic lerzit-i'onf of what'isbelieved toIbe novl antl'the invention, attention is nowiii'rected to themeconipzu yi igl drawing; Hescription :thereo'f and'the appended claims. "In-the drawing, a railway rehicleprw videdi withle condensation plant in accord 'ance Withthe invention is dizigraniirmticaily illu'strateii, Fig. .1 beingn Side View thereof,

partlyliii section, andfFig. beingz .1'ea,r,

en'dj view of the seine;

adapted \to' carry the. apparatus of the pre ent invention as a separateiinit in'e'ltrain.

Monnted .on the floor off the'car,' which is indicated at '6, in 'spaced [relation Ito each other longitudinally of the car; were three sufface con-denser -units 7, 8 1 and (9, each of which cov'ere the fful l QWidth of .the car,

j'Each condenser unit comp rises 'nfcon-c densate chamber 1'0 having acondensate 7 Referring to thedrhwingf5 is any rnil Way vehicley'such' as a Hat car, which is levltherin indicatedat l0.in whichpcham-c her are located-n plura'lityzof m-alien;- passages or cooling air :tubeefll. These tuh'eslezgtend between; the front-and. ear 3 Walls oi the unit iandnre Supported thereby atithei .ende; LThe tnhes thne 'ezrtend'lonf gltudlnal ly of the car ando 'aenexteriorly of the walls "by which they are supported,

thereby winkingeaziir cu-itrento tset, up by r the car when il'l'dhOtiQn pass through themviio efiectcoohngof the confiensatelinlthe (sham-j I be1'?1 The tiibeslin each unit rare snfiicient in: number and properly epaced .to cover .siibf;

sta itially the :entire' .eross'v section of the con} densate chamber. .By providing (condenser) units Whichnre .thelfiill iizidthrof [the (can i and covering snbs tantizilly I the entire croS's section of eachnnit with ziir cooling-tuba 'ag coolingksurfa'ee of maximum area @is j pro vided in contact with the condensate for a given over-all height of car and condensate plant, the height of each condenser unit being limited to that which will permit the assembled condensate plant to pass through tunnels, under bridges and the like.

Each condenser chamber is connected adjacent its top with a common exhaust elastic fluid header 12 which extends longitudinally of and centrally over the car. The inlet end of the header 12 is indicated at 13, being extended in a direction to connect with the exhaust outlet of the driving elastic fluid prime mover carried by the locomotive. As the locomotive and prime mover thereon do not concern the invention, the same are not illustrated. In the present example, they may be considered to be ahead of the condensation plant in the direction of travel, which last is indicated by the arrow. The exhaust header 12 therefore extends in this direction, although it will be seen that should it be desirable to position the condensation plant ahead of the locomotive, the exhaust header may be easily extended to the rear for connection therewith.

The condenser chambers 10 are connected to a common receiving tank or hot well 14- located below the floor 0, the middle chamber being connected directly therewith and the end chambers being connected by conduits 15. The arrangement is such that condensate from the chambers 10 flows by gravity into the hot well. The condensate may then be taken from the hot well and utilized in any suitable manner, for example, it may be returned to the elastic fluid system of the locomotive with which the con densation plant is used.

Covering the rear wall of the condenser units 7, 8 and 9, and the inner or rear ends of the air cooling tubes 11 therein, are duplicate fan casings 16, 17 and 18, respectively, in which are located revolving centrifugal fans 19. The fans are mounted on a common shaft 20 which is driven through a suitable reduction gearing 21 by a small elastic fluid turbine 22. Bearings for the shaft are indicated at The turbine, shaft and gearing represent any suitable means for driving the fans 19. The turbine and gearing are preferably located as shown adjacent the front end of the car, for the reason that elastic fluid may then be more easily and advantageously supplied to the turbine from the locomotive with which the condensation plant is used.

- However, in the case. hereinbefore mentioned, that the condensation plant is to be connected ahead of the locomotive with which it is used, the turbine and gearing may then be located at the rear of the car and connected with a rear extension of shaft 20.

The exhaust outlet of turbine 22-is indicated at 24 and is directly connected with the exhaust elastic-fluid header 12 by a conduit 25. This permits the exhaust elastic fluid therefrom to be included in the main exhaust elastic fluid stream and to be delivered, as condensate, to the hot well 14.

Extending between condenser units 7 and 8 and between condenser units 8 and 9, in continuation of the side walls of said units, are walls 26 which thereby enclose the fan casings 16 and 17. The walls 26 between condenser units 7 and 8 are not shown in order to show the interior thcreat more clearly. The major portion of the fan casings do not occupy the full width or height of the car, as represented by the space between lines 27 and 28, Fig. 2, and fan ings 1G and 17 are spaced from condenser units 8 and 9 respectively, so that within the walls 36 and between the adjacent condenser units are provided air passages or chambers 29 about the fan casings 16 and 17 which chambers connect with the adjacent inlet ends of the air cooling tubes in condenser units 8 and S).

ails 25 are louvercd, as indicated at 30, to entrain air from frontal direction and to direct said entrained air into chambers 29 from which chambers it is received by the air cooling tubes and directed thereby through the condenser units 8 and 9, each of said condenser units being thereby supplied with cooling air separately from the other.

Condenser units 7, being at the front of the car with the open ends of the air cooling tubes therein directly expos d to the windage flow, requires no louvcrs or air passages for entraining air and directing the same through said condenser unit other than the tubes alone. Although turbine 22 and gear ing 21 are positioned in front of condenser unit 7, the turbine and gearing are of small size and offer little resistance to the windage flow to the air cooling tubes of said unit. It is obvious that a considerable quantity of cooling air would flow through condenser units 8 and 9 without resorting to means such as the walls 26 and the louvered openings therein for entraining the wind-age air for said condenser units.

The entrained air for each condenser unit, after passing through the cooling tubes thereof, enters the adjacent fan casing to the rear, passes through the fan, and leaves the fan casing in the direction of the arrows below each fan, suitable outlet openings (not shown) being provided in the i'loor ti which forms the bottom of the fan casings.

It will be seen that the condensation plant comprises what is substantially an air cooled surface condenser comprising separate units connected in parallel between the eXhaust header and the hot well and adapted to receive cooling air in each section separately,

to 'the full width and height :Oli' tlieuveh-io c the cooling air "being "the windage set up by directed through Vllhile three condeneer'units re shown-in the nas ent the speed' of travel, which isentrained end the condenser condenser ofthepresentexnple,it is obvious thht a; greater or lesser number o-trunits nijeybe used to provide ev certain-desired The cooling air tende to flow speed. To provide higl'ier eifectire speed l in the i -inda-geornir flow through the cool-" mg tubeeet all higher'speeds, and to 'niznnitain a considerable 'flowgof air tlirough said direction to e reate I 1 i turbine for the fensinntybe regulated to: prov de the desired cooling elfect With n cer-,

tainFli-mitsf i Inen'ch condenser unit, the cooling air. inthkeis zibove' the floor, wihle the. outletus below" the floor." This. arrangement prevents theT Werin air-discharged fi'rom one unit ahead from b'ElDg h'hXGCl wlth the an int-like for the units ln'th'e rear;

While the inventionrhas oeenherein descrihed inconnection With a condensation plant for. elasticfluid-primeenover-driven locomotives, it is not limitedthereto and 1s capable of otherfembodiments for .use

connection with; any self propelled ,vehicle requiring msniiiple, effective and econoinicel condensationplant. 1

' \Vhat Ijcleinias'neiy and desire, to eeciire by' Letters Patent of the Unitedstntes isz.

means "carriedthereby for condensing ex heust elastic fluiddirectlyby nir currents,

seidineens comprising asu'rilece condenser having a plurality of independentnnits 2. Thecombinetioh 'with avehicle, means carried thereby for condensnig cooling of the condenser :un over the full crosssection thereof, and means spac'ednpurt longitudinally "of; the yehicle, each of said units"occupying eubstentielly whereby r uiiit croes section-nre provided, ineens for utilizin'gtheiwinda airfcurr set up by the speed of travel of the-Vvehic e'in etfectin'g connected with eech condenser unit for acceleret-ing the flowof the "aircurr-ents so util- I iz'eld and exhaus ting the "shine bel ow the new ihicle.

heust ela stic fluiddirectly by air currents,

"said inc-ans comprising a surface condenser nnits.

through the air cooling tubes at vsubrteutihlly the speed offthe carwhen ininoti0n,"the rate of flow of air increasing "anddeer-easing with the oi 'inaximurn permissible;

hzwingfu plurality of "independent units.

spaced epert longitudinally of the vehicle and each occupying substantially the full width of seidfvehicle, meansfor directing. air currents incidentto the travel 05 the vehicle separately througireech condenser unit-zindfor diechirging snid-nir currents below the vehicl each condcnseri. of seideir 'cnrren ts fitherctl'irouggh ell speech; ht i'hichthe Vehicle travels and for maintaining ,nnd n'ienns'coinie'cted With 3 The combination \'vith a vei'iicle, or means carried thereby for condensing. v heustelectric fluid-d rect :bynir currents,

said means comprising isurtece condenser having 'zu iplurehty or" ndependent 'if nits spaced apart longitudiniilly oi the vehicle and aeech occnpying' shbstentially the full Width .of'thc Vehicle, inen'nshfor directing windnge'eir currents incident to thetravel ofthe vehicle scperntelythrough each condenserunit and for discharging sziid air currents eiow the vehicle, and 11182111800111- prising a tan cusing connected with each condenser unit and a suction fenin each ing for ecceleretingtheflow of ivindage air currents through said condenser nnits. 4 L'The combination with vehicle, of means carried thereby i'or'condm said means;comprising n surf-ace condenser hevinp; a plurality otindependent unitsspztced apart longitudinally oi the vehicle and each occupy ng substantially the full WlCltllO'fthe veh cle, eplurniity of airpes. sages in each 'unit which extend thereth ough in a l'oi spect to the vehiclmeaid direction beingthct of the -til ztvelcof the vehicle when in motion, e-separete suction ten for each condenser unit connected with thenir passages thereof zz nid beingprovided with ;en outlet opening ivhich discharges belowthe ehicle, certain otsaid fensbeinigr interposed between e diace nt cc. an inlet nirclminbenfjor a condenser? about each-"of said interposed tans.

deneer: comprising stjplurelity Ofindepend-J ent' units space/depart longitudinally of the c l he full Width of the vehicle, a plurality of air Vehicle 1a nd each; occupying subfstant' tior accelerating the flow ine combinationwith. a-w'ehicle, Sofa sur iece conden ser mounted thereon, said "con- I certuindcsired air flow there through etrelatwely low speeds.

i sing ex- 'heust GlflSill-Cllllltlf directly by aircurrents,

.g'itndinel direction with redeneerc units, and means providing 1 i passages in each unit which extendtherethrough in I a longitudinal direction with 'respect to the vehicle, said direction being that of thectravcl of the vel'iicle' when in motion,

walls between adjacent condenser units 1 which form an chambers connected With the (2111 passages, of; certain of the condenser units, louvers in'seid Wallsjproviding, substantmllylirontal open ngs for entraining ,Windege air currents set up by the vehicle" when in motion, and a separate suction fan for each condenser unit connected with the air passages thereof.

6. The combination with a vehicle, of a surface condenser mounted thereon, said condenser comprising a plurality of independent units spaced apart longitudinally at. the vehicle and each occupying substantially the full width of the vehicle, a plurality of air passages in each unit which extend therethrough in a longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle. said direction being that of the travel of the vehicle when in motion, walls between adjacent condenser units which form air chambers connected with the air passages of certain of the condenser unit's, louvers in said walls providing substantially frontal openings for entraining windage air currents set up by the vehicle when in motion, an exhaust elastic tinid header and a hot well between which the condenser units are connected, said header being located above the condenser units and said hot well being located below the condenser units. a separate suction tan for each condenser unit connected with the air passages thereof. and means carried by the vehicle for driving the suction tans.

T. The. combination with a vehicle. of a surface condenser mounted thereon. said condenser comprising a plurality of independent units spaced apart longitudinally of the vehicle and each occupying substantially the full width of the vehicle. a plurality of air passages in each unit which extend therethrough in a longitudinal direction with respect: to the vehicle said direction being that of the travel of the vehicle when in motion. walls between adjacent condenser units which torm air chambers connected with the air passages of certain of the condenser units. louvers in said walls providing substantially trontal openings for cntraining windage air currents set up by the vehicle when in motion, an exhaust elastic fluid header and a hot well between which the condenser units are connected, said header being located above the condenser units and said hot well being located below the condenser units. a separate suction fan for each condenser unit connected with the air passages thereof. and means for driving the suction fans, said means comprising a common shaft on which the fans are mounted and anelastic fluid prime-1nover mounted on the vehicle and operatively connected with the shaft.

8. The combination with a vehicle having a floor, of a surface condenser mounted thereon above said floor, said condenser coinprisinga plurality of separate condensate chambers spaced one behind the other along the vehicle from front to rear, air passages in each condensate chamber extending through the same from front to rear whereby windage air currents flow through said passages when the vehicle is in motion, a tan casing at the rear of each condensate chamber covering the rear ends of the air passages therein and lying in spaced relation to the adjacent condensate chamber to the rear. :1 tan in each casing which operates to create a suctionon the rear ends of the air pas." ges covered by each casing whereby the windage air flow through said air passages is accelerated, means providing a discharge outlet for each tan casing below the vehicle ttoor, and means carried by the vehicle t'or drivingthe fans.

9. The combination with a vehicle having a floor, ot a surface condenser mounted thereon above said floor, said condenser comprising a plurality of separate condensate chambers spaced one behind the other along the vehicle t'rom front to rear, air passages in each condensate chamber extending through the same from front to rear whereby windage air currents flow through said passages when the vehicle is in motion, a fan casing it the rear of each condensate chamber covering the rear ends of the air passages therein and lying in spaced relation to the adjacent condensate chamber to the rear, a tan in each casing which operates to create a suction on the rear ends of the air passages covered by each casing, whereby the wind age air flow through said air passages is ac celerated, means providing a discharge outlet for eaclrtan casing below the vehicle floor. and means for driving the tans comprising a common sbai't extending along the vehicle from trout to rear on which shaft the tans are. mounted and an elastic-fluid prime-mover mounted on the vehicle and opcratively connected with the shaft.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of November, 1924.

CARL ROGIVUE.

Certificate of Correction.

Patent No. 1,632,624. Granted June 14:, 1927, to

CARL ROGIVUE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the abovenumbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 81, claim 3, for the Word electric 7 read elastic; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of July, A. D. 1927.

[SEAL] M. J. MOORE,

Acting Gammz'ssioner of Patents. 

